The kids are back at school, the nights are drawing in and summer barbecues, games on the beach and cocktails by the pool are now a distant memory. Yes, autumn is here.
Autumn is the perfect time to get those essential maintenance jobs done before the winter sets in. Not only that, but you’ll be spending a lot more time in your home during autumn and winter, so it makes sense to make sure it’s nice and cozy and looking its best. Read on to find out what to do to prepare your house for the snuggling season.
De-clutter your gutter
Boring, yes, but essential. Autumn is obviously when gardens and gutters are hit with a deluge of leaves. Leaves in your gutters can cause blockages, leaving you with an overflow of rainwater, which can lead to dampness inside your home and even structural damage. Have a look at your gutters. If you can see any water dripping or pouring from the sides, damp sections of the wall, or plants growing from your guttering, then it’s likely that you have blocked gutters. If you can’t get up there yourself with a ladder, then call out a professional to give them a maintenance check and carry out any necessary repairs.
Spruce up the inside
The autumn and winter months are when you’ll be spending more of your time indoors, so you might want to treat your home to a few new things. Before you make any purchases, spend some time reviewing your finances, so you know how much you have to play with. If your walls are looking a little shabby, you could give them a new lick of paint. Why not add a feature wall in your lounge or bedroom with a warm, inviting color like a burnt orange? What about your sofa? You’ll be spending a lot more time sitting on it over the coming months — is it up to the task? Now might be the time for an upgrade. You could grab a bargain in the autumn sales.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a new sofa, you can add warmth and interest with a thick, textured throw or some soft, fluffy cushions – perfect to snuggle up with. Or even something as simple as a homemade arrangement of twigs, pine cones, and scented candles can create a warm autumnal vibe.
De-summer your wardrobe
It might be with a heavy heart, but you’re going to have to face facts that you’re not going to be wearing that kaftan again anytime soon. Goodbye summer dresses, hello chunky knits! However, nothing makes a bedroom appear more cluttered than clothes spilling out of the wardrobe. Invest in some vacuum pack bags, pull out all your summer clothes, and cleanly and easily store them in the loft or a spare cupboard until next summer – leaving you with plenty more wardrobe room for those cuddly jumpers.
Check your heating system
Autumn is also the perfect time to give your heating system once over. You won’t have used it much over the summer and you’ll need to make sure that it’s working optimally before the colder months really kick in. Get your boiler serviced by a plumber or consider signing up to a maintenance agreement with a service provider, who will give you an annual check and carry out any necessary repairs.
Now that your house is autumn-ready, all you need to do is cozy up and enjoy. Now, where did we put the TV guide?
